Hamilton Mayor Bencivengo returns to work after federal corruption charge

Erin Duffy / The TimesHamilton Mayor John Bencivengo's car parked outside the Greenwood Avenue municipal building this morning, April 30. Bencivengo was back to work on Monday, days after appearing in federal court on an extortion charge.

Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo is charged with taking bribesHamilton Mayor John Bencivengo appeared briefly in court this morning to face charges he solicited and received $12,400 in bribes from a health insurance broker for his influence in securing a no-bid school district contract. His attorney Jerome Ballarotto said his client is innocent following an initial court appearance today.

HAMILTON -- Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo returned to work this morning and attended a meeting at the township municipal meeting just days after being charged by federal authorities with soliciting $12,400 in bribes.

A secretary for Bencivengo confirmed the mayor was at work, and Bencivengo's black Crown Victoria was parked outside in its designated spot around 9:30 a.m. this morning.

Township officials declined a request to speak with Bencivengo, saying the mayor was in a meeting.

Bencivengo, 58, is accused of taking $12,400 in bribes from a Hamilton school insurance broker in exchange for using his influence as mayor to ensure a school board member voted for a no-bid contract benefiting the broker.

The two-term Republican mayor made his first appearance in federal court on Thursday on the single extortion charge after surrendering to FBI agents.